The Stuarts and the Civil War - 1603AD to 1644AD

Plagues, witch trials and fires are familiar aspects of
Elizabethan and Stuart life but the greatest disruption was caused by
the Civil War in the mid-1600s. In 1640, Charles I summoned Parliament
to raise funds for a war against the Scots but Parliament , not called
for 11 years, naturally refused. Charles was defeated by the Scots at
Newburn on Tyneside in 1640 and the Scots seized the North-East. This
increased the tension between King and Parliament which resulted in the
English Civil War.

1603 - KING JAMES UNITES THE CROWNS (Britain)

James VI of Scotland becomes James I King of Scotland and
England following the death of the childless Elizabeth I.

November 1605 - GUNPOWDER PLOT (London)

Guy Fawkes of York is chief among those implicated in a plot
to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Fawkes is tortured and executed.

1606 - REIVERS TRANSPORTED (Northumberland)

King James begins the transportation of Border Reivers to
Ireland. The Border raids will come to an end over the next five years.

1607 - LIDDELS OF RAVENSWORTH (Gateshead)

The Liddel family have purchased the estate and castle of
Ravensworth
near Gateshead.

1607 - SKINNINGROVE MERMAN (Cleveland coast)

A merman is swept inshore by storms and caught by fishermen -
reputedly.

1610 - SUNDERLAND MUST PAY NEWCASTLE (Sunderland)

Around 14,700 tons of coal a year is being exported from
Sunderland to London but following a petition from Newcastle, the King
orders that part of Sunderland's coal revenue must be paid to
Newcastle's merchants.

1620 - SCARBOROUGH SPA (Scarborough)

Scarborough's development as a holiday resort begins with the
discovery of a spa.

1625 - CHARLES I

Charles I becomes King

1636 - NEWCASTLE PLAGUE (Newcastle)

5,037 die of plague at Newcastle after the contagion spread
from North Shields in 1635. Grass is said to grow in Newcastle's
streets.

1638 - CHARLES STRENGTHENS NEWCASTLE (Britain)

Charles I, who became King in 1625, strengthens Newcastle's
defences against the Scots whom he believes are plotting against him.
The following year he makes peace with the Scottish army near Berwick
but on his return to London, skirmishes continue in th e north between
his troops based in York and the Scots.

1640 - BATTLE OF NEWBURN (Newburn NEAR NEWCASTLE)

On August 20, Scots under General Alexander Leslie invade
England and cross the Tyne west of Newcastle. King Charles' army is
defeated. English losses are light but the men flee and desert the
garrison at Newcastle.

August 29-30, 1640 - SCOTS SEIZE NEWCASTLE AND DURHAM
(North-East)

Newcastle and
Durham are seized by the Scots. The Newcastle
coal trade ceases and shops in Durham and Newcastle are looted. Charles
negotiates a truce at York and the Scots disband when they are paid
£60,000 in 1641.

January 14, 1643 - COAL SHIPS BANNED (Newcastle)

Last year Hull came out in support of the Parliamentarians and
banned Charles from visiting it. Parliament has now banned London coal
ships from sailing to Newcastle unless the city agrees to support the
Parliamentarians.

June 30, 1643 - BATTLE AT ADWALTON MOOR (West Yorkshire)

Parliamentarian troops under Fairfax are defeated by Royalists
despite support in Leeds and Bradford. Royalists now control all
Yorkshire except Hull.

1644 February 3-6, - SCOTS REACH NEWCASTLE (Alnwick)

In January, Scots under General Alexander Leslie invade
England again. They encamp at Corbridge and outside Newcastle. Heavy
ordnance is delivered to the Scottish camp at Newcastle via Blyth.

February 22-March 8, 1644 - SCOTS MOVE TO SUNDERLAND
(Sunderland)

The Scots leave six regiments at Newcastle while the rest make
their way to Sunderland where there is Parliamentarian support. They
camp temporarily at Ebchester and
Chester-le-Street before entering
Sunderland on March 4. Four days later, a skirmish takes place near
Sunderland, possibly at Boldon, between Scots and Royalists under the
Marquis of Newcastle but the rough terrain prevents a full-scale battle.

March 13, 1644 - SCOTS BESIEGE SOUTH SHIELDS (South Shields)

Part of Sunderland's Scottish garrison moves towards
Durham
City seeking food in the countryside but finds the land destroyed by
Royalists. The garrison is struggling because provisions delivered from
Scotland are being captured and forced into the Tyne. The Scots turn
their attention to South Shields and capture the town after a siege on
March 19.

March 24, 1644 - SCOTS WON'T FIGHT (Sunderland)

After marching from Newcastle to Durham, the Marquess of
Newcastle's Royalist soldiers fail to engage the Scots in battle at
Hylton. Cannon is fired but the Scots remain at a safe distance. On
returning to Durham the Royalist rear is attacked by a small party of
Scots, possibly on Gilesgate Moor. In April the Scots extend their
quarters south to Quarrington Hill and Easington.

April 11 - 20, 1644 - ARMIES JOIN YORK SIEGE (York)

Parliamentarian troops besiege the Royalist garrison at York
and the Royalist troops of the Marquess of Newcastle move south to
defend it. They travel via Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle and
Piercebridge. At the same time, Scottish troops in east Durham head
south via Ferryhill. Skirmishes occur near Darlington during the
journey. On April 20, the Marquess arrives at York while the Scots join
the Parliamentarian troops of Fairfax at Tadcaster.

July 2, 1644 - MARSTON MOOR (Near York)

Parliamentarians and Scots inflict a heavy defeat on the
Royalists in a night battle at Marston Moor. Three thousand Royalists
are killed. On July 16, York is taken by Parliamentarians after a long
siege.

August to October 1644 - NEWCASTLE AND SUNDERLAND RIVALRY
(Newcastle)

The Scots, fresh from Marston Moor, capture and occupy
Stockton Castle. Other Scots head for Newcastle, which falls under
siege. The town is defended by the mayor John Marley. The
Parliamentarians of Sunderland, who assisted the blew cap Scots, were
resented by the Royalists of Newcastle - especially as they were
challenging Newcastle's coal monopoly. A Newcastle Royalist rhyme of
the time shows this resentment:

Ride through Sandgate, up and doon

There you'll see the gallants fighting for the croon

And all the cull cuckolds in Sunderland toon

With all the bonny blew caps cannot pull them doon.

After a ten week siege, Scots capture Newcastle, penetrating
its walls with gunpowder on October 20. Marley in the castle surrenders
two days later. Tynemouth castle also surrenders on October 27.
Newcastle's coal trade comes to a standstill.